Mine Kill State Park Boat Launch to Close for the Season Effective July 7 - Closure to Accommodate Power Authoritys Planned Improvement to Public Facilities

NORTH BLENHEIM — The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) today announced that the Mine Kill State Park Boat Launch at the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project’s lower reservoir will close for the season to recreational boating effective July 7. The closure is necessary to accommodate planned renovation of the facilities, which will include a new kayak building with storage lockers, a new eagle observation area and a new launch with an accessible sidewalk. The boat launch will remain closed for the duration of the season and will reopen next year. The lower parking lot and picnic areas will also be closed during the project, and there may be some closures of hiking trails as well. Visitors are asked to observe all construction signage and check the state park’s website before visiting for additional information. 

Mine Kill State Park is owned and maintained by the New York Power Authority as part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) license for the Blenheim-Gilboa Pump Storage Power Project. The planned work is part of the project’s 2019 FERC relicensing agreement.  

The Blenheim-Gilboa Project’s upper reservoir will remain open for boating but is limited to rowboats, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks only—with or without electric-trolling motors. Gasoline-powered engines and sailboats are prohibited on the upper reservoir.  

For access to the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project’s upper reservoir, boaters are required to stop at the south gate on Valenti Road no earlier than 7:00 a.m. on the day you intend to use the upper reservoir.  All boats must be off the reservoir promptly at 5:00 p.m. Shoreline fishing closes at dusk. Daily inspections of the reservoir will be performed by the NYPA B-G Security. 

Please visit the New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation webpage on tips for boating safety.